Best MBA Colleges in Chennai: Rankings, Admission Process, and Campus Life

December 21, 2023
best mba colleges in chennai

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Doing an MBA in India has many benefits. MBA can provide you with a deep understanding of the business world. It provides networking options. It also offers exposure to many industries. India has a large number of reputed MBA colleges. All these colleges have skilled faculty and the best amenities.

Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is home to some of the best business schools in India. Pursuing an MBA in Chennai has many benefits. One is broad access to a wide variety of courses. Other benefits include a thriving business system and an affordable cost of living.

This article gives a detailed list of the best MBA colleges in Chennai. You will also learn about their admission processes, infrastructure, faculty, and aids. Read on to make an informed decision.

Top MBA Colleges in Chennai- Highlights

Here is the data of the best MBA colleges in Chennai:

Number of MBA Colleges in Chennai147
Type of CollegesManagement and Engineering
Colleges Affiliated toState and Private Universities
Courses offered by MBA Colleges in ChennaiPGDM and MBA
Average Fees5-7 lakhs
Admission ProcessEntrance Based
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Top MBA Colleges in Chennai

Here’s a list of the top 25 MBA Colleges in India.

1] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras

IIT Madras offers many management courses. Some of the best MBA courses in Chennai are:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Executive MBA (EMBA)
  • Integrated Master of Business Administration (IMBA)
  • PhD in Management.

The campus is one with modern aids. This includes modern classrooms and a big library. Other aids include furnished computer labs, sports facilities, and hostels.

The campus also has a rich student life. It has many clubs and societies catering to the students’ interests. The campus also hosts many events yearly. The most common ones include cultural fests, technical fests, and sports events.

IIT Madras MBA is not affiliated with any university. The Department of Management Studies (DoMS) offers this course. It is a department at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

The All-India Council for Technical Education approved the MBA program. The Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredited the course.

To get admission into this course, entrants must clear the exam. The entrants must appear for the Common Admission Test. The Indian Institutes of Management conducts it.

It is one of the MBA colleges in Chennai with low fees. It comes to around 9 lakhs

2] Great Lakes Institute of Management

Great Lakes Institute of Management offers many courses:

  • Post Graduate Programs in Management (PGPM)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
  • Executive MBA (EMBA)
  • Senior Management Program (SMP)
  • Management Development Programs (MDPs)
  • Part-time courses
  • PhD Programs
  • Online courses like Digital Marketing

The campus has a huge library and furnished computer labs. It also has lecture halls, seminar halls, and an auditorium. It also has a student hostel. Other aids include a sports complex, a gym and a cafe.

The lecture halls and seminar halls are big. All have AC and are furnished. Modern audio-visual setup is a part of it. It helps ease effective learning. The auditorium can house over 700 people. It hosts many events, including sessions, seminars, and cultural events. It is one of the best MBA colleges in Chennai.

Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai is an independent business school. It is not affiliated with any university. It is recognized by the All-India Council for Technical Education. It is accredited by the Association of MBAs.

You can get admission to this college through many exams. You can appear for CAT, GMAT, GRE, XAT, and CMAT. The cut-offs will differ for each exam.

The campus has a huge library and furnished computer labs. It also has lecture halls, seminar halls, and an auditorium. It also has a student hostel. Other aids include a sports complex, a gym and a cafe.

The lecture halls and seminar halls are big. All have AC and are furnished. Modern audio-visual setup is a part of it. It helps ease effective learning. The auditorium can house over 700 people. It hosts many events, including sessions, seminars, and cultural events. It is one of the best MBA colleges in Chennai.

Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai is an independent business school. It is not affiliated with any university. It is recognized by the All-India Council for Technical Education. It is accredited by the Association of MBAs.

You can get admission to this college through many exams. You can appear for CAT, GMAT, GRE, XAT, and CMAT. The cut-offs will differ for each exam.

The average fee of this college is about 13-17 lakhs.

3] Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA)

The college offers the following courses:

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
  • Executive Diploma in Management (EDM)
  • PhD in Management.

Besides this, LIBA also offers many certificates and short-term courses. Most of these courses are in management for working experts, managers, and entrepreneurs.

The campus has an AC auditorium, seminar halls, and meeting rooms. It also has a library that houses over 30,000 books and journals. There is also a computer lab and a language lab. The campus has a Wi-Fi facility. It provides students with 24/7 internet access.

The University of Madras provides affiliation to the LIBA.

You can get admission to this college through the following exams: CAT, GMAT, XAT, and CMAT.

The average fee of this college is about 13 lakhs.

4] Department of Management Studies, Anna University

Some of the courses offered are:

  • Master of Business Administration
  • MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management
  • MBA in Technology Management
  • MBA in Financial Services Management
  • MBA in Human Resource Management
  • MBA in Marketing Management
  • MBA in Operations Management
  • MBA in General Management
  • Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management

The department is on a huge campus with modern infrastructure and amenities. The campus has a big library and computer labs. It also has auditoriums, seminar halls, and sports facilities.

The Department of Management Studies at Anna University Chennai provides the affiliation. Anna University is a public state university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The Department of Management Studies at Anna University, Chennai, offers admission through entrance exams. Admission to the MBA is via Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET). The university itself conducts this exam.

The average fee of these B schools in Chennai is about 8 lakhs.

5] SRM Institute of Science and Technology

The college provides many management courses:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MBA in Business Analytics
  • MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management
  • MBA in Human Resource Management
  • MBA in Marketing Management
  • MBA in Operations Management
  • MBA in Financial Management
  • MBA in Supply Chain Management

The campus has 600 acres of lush greenery. It has the best infrastructure and modern aids. The university has furnished classrooms, labs, libraries, and sports aids. The campus also has a fully active hospital, a shopping complex, and a food court.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chennai is a deemed-to-be university. It is not affiliated with any other university

SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chennai conducts its entrance exam: SRMJEEM (SRM Joint Entrance Examination for Management).

The average fee of this college is about 5 lakhs.

6] Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology

The college offers many MBA courses in Chennai:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Commerce (M.Com)
  • Integrated BBA-MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA)

The campus has many facilities including modern classrooms, fully equipped labs, and a big library. The college also has a hostel facility for both boys and girls. It also has separate lodgings for international students.

Vel Tech Rangarajan, Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, is a Deemed-to-be-University in Chennai, India. It was once affiliated with Anna University. In 2008, it was granted the Deemed-to-be-University status by the University Grants Commission.

For postgraduate courses such as MBA, admission is through exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, or ATMA.

The average fee for this college is about 2-3 lakhs.

Also Read: PGDM vs MBA- Which is better?

7] Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS)

The management courses offered here are:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management

VISTAS Chennai is a huge educational campus in Pallavaram, Chennai. It has modern aids such as big libraries and fully fitted computer labs. It also has big classrooms, seminar halls, and audio-visual rooms. The campus also features sports aids like a swimming pool, a gym, and an indoor sports complex.

VISTAS Chennai is a private university in India. It is not affiliated with any other university.

To get admission to VISTAS, you need to pass the exam. The ones that you should apply for are CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, GMAT, and ATMA.

The average fee to get into VISTAS Chennai is 2-4 lakhs.

8] Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology

The courses offered are:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MBA in Hospital Management
  • MBA in International Business
  • MBA in Financial Management
  • MBA in Human Resource Management
  • MBA in Marketing Management

Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology is in the southern suburb of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The campus is spread over 650 acres. It provides a calm and peaceful setting for learning. The college offers modern facilities such as furnished classrooms, labs, a library, an auditorium, a sports complex, and hostel facilities.

Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai is affiliated with Anna University, Chennai.

To get into this college, you need to pass the exam. You can appear for CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, and TANCET.

The MBA fees structure in Chennai for this college is 4 lakhs.

9] Rajalakshmi School of Business

This college offers the following courses:

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
  • PGDM in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • PGDM in Banking, Insurance, and Financial Services
  • PGDM in Business Analytics
  • Executive PGDM

The college has a modern learning resource center. The campus is eco-friendly. The campus is designed to be sustainable too.

Rajalakshmi School of Business is affiliated with Anna University, Chennai.

One could take the following exams to get into RSB: CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT, and CMAT.

The average fee to get into this college is about 8 lakhs.

10] Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science

This college offers the following courses:

  • MBA Finance, Marketing, HR
  • MBA Hotel and Tourism Management
  • MBA Hospital Management
  • MBA Logistics Management
  • MBA Media and Entertainment
  • MBA Sports Management
  • MBA Business Analytics
  • MBA Aviation Management

The campus is beautiful, with lush greenery. HITS provides a good environment for learning and growth. It is one of the best business schools in Chennai.

It is an independent institution. It is not affiliated with any university. It is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

To get admission, one needs to clear the entrance exam conducted by the institution.

The average fee is 8 lakhs.

Other top MBA colleges in Chennai include:

  • Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS)
  • Jeppiaar Engineering College
  • Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute
  • Sri Sairam Institute of Technology
  • SAMS College of Engineering and Technology
  • Alpha Arts and Science College
  • Madras Institute of Technology
  • Anna University
  • Apollo Arts and Science College
  • Chennai Institute of Technology
  • Jerusalem College of Engineering
  • B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology
  • Panimalar Institute of Technology
  • Sri Sai Ram Engineering College
  • Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering and Technology

Apart from this, there are many other B schools in Chennai too.

Entrance Exams for Top MBA Colleges in Chennai

Chennai is a hub for MBA colleges. It attracts thousands of students annually. To gain admission into Best MBA colleges in Chennai, aspirants must appear for entrance exams.

While some colleges accept national-level exams, others conduct their admission tests.

Here are the entrance exams for the Best MBA colleges in Chennai:

  • CAT (Common Admission Test)

This is a national-level exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It’s for entry into MBA courses. Many management colleges in India uses this score. This will help you get into the best colleges for MBA in Chennai.

  • XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

XAT is an annual test for admission to MBA and PGDM courses. It tests language, quantitative, and decision-making skills. No negative marking has been given to it. It is accepted by many business schools in India. The exam is online. It lasts for three hours.

  • GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

GMAT is an online test for admission to graduate management courses. It tests analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills. The exam has no fixed score. The scores are valid for five years.

  • CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)

CMAT is an online test for admission to MBA and PGDM courses. It tests language, quantitative, and logical reasoning skills. Many business schools in India use this score for cut-offs. The exam is online. It lasts for three hours.

  • MAT (Management Aptitude Test):

MAT is a test for admission to MBA and PGDM courses in India. It tests language, mathematics, data interpretation, and reasoning skills. The exam is available in both online and offline modes. It lasts for two and a half hours.

  • NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test)

NMAT is an annual exam for management aspirants by NMIMS. It tests language, quantitative, and logical skills. It has no negative marking. Many Indian business schools accept this score. Students can take the test many times. For admission, the best score is used. The exam is online. It lasts for two hours.

  • TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test)

TANCET is a state-level exam conducted by Anna University. It is a test for admission to postgraduate courses in Tamil Nadu. It tests language, mathematical, and logical reasoning skills. You can take the exam in offline mode. It lasts for two hours.

  • ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions)

ATMA is an online admission test. It is for MBA, PGDM, and other postgraduate management courses in India. It tests analytical, verbal, and quantitative skills. Many business schools in India accept this exam score. The exam lasts three hours.

It’s vital to note that this is not the only list. The entrants should always check with the individual colleges for the need. This will give the most up-to-date data about their admission and entrance exams.

Also, ensure to check the needs of the test too. Preparing well in advance increases the chances of passing and selection. If you want to be in the best colleges for MBA in Chennai, ensure to know all basics. Also, check the MBA fees structure in Chennai for the best comparison.

Takeaways

There are many esteemed business schools in Chennai. They offer excellent education along with career options for aspiring business experts. As we saw above, each college has its unique features. Their strengths and areas of discipline also differ.

Choosing the right MBA college can be a tiring task. It is important to consider factors such as reputation, faculty expertise and curriculum. Apart from these, infrastructure, placement records and alumni networks are also important. Focus on all of these before making a decision.

Going to one of the best colleges for MBA in Chennai can open up options. The admission process, along with entrance exams, is long. But keep at it!

Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive in to our guide on Career Advice.

Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs)

Is the CAT exam tough?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is known to be a challenging exam as it requires a high level of aptitude, problem-solving, and time management skills. The competition is tough, and the syllabus is vast, which can make it overwhelming for many aspirants. However, with proper planning, dedication, and practice, you can crack the exam and secure admission to the top management institutes in India. It is important to stay focused and motivated throughout your preparation to achieve your desired score.

Is the admission done only based on entrance exams?

No, admission isn’t just based on entrance exams. You will have to go through many rounds during the entrance process. Rounds include interviews and group discussions. The weightage given to each factor may vary from college to college. It is important to check the admission criteria and requirements of the colleges you are interested in and prepare accordingly to increase your chances of admission.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for the best MBA colleges in Chennai, you should have completed your graduation from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA. You also need to qualify for the relevant entrance exam such as CAT, MAT, XAT, or any other entrance exam specified by the respective colleges. Some colleges may also prefer candidates with work experience ranging from 1-3 years, especially for Executive MBA programs

Is it tough to get into MBA colleges?

Getting into MBA colleges in Chennai can be challenging as it requires a combination of academic excellence, relevant work experience, and a good performance in the entrance exam. The competition is tough, and the selection process is rigorous, which can make it challenging for many aspirants. However, with proper planning, preparation, and dedication, you can increase your chances of getting into a good MBA college. It is important to identify your strengths, work on your weaknesses, and apply to the right set of colleges based on your profile.

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